Baroness Casey’s review of culture and standards in the Metropolitan Police Service found that public protection teams are overworked, overwhelmed, under-supported and lack specialist services [1].
Her report highlighted that public protection teams deal with some of the “most serious crimes affecting the most vulnerable Londoners and committed by highly dangerous criminals”. These include rape and sexual assault, child abuse, online abuse, sexual exploitation and stalking.
She reported high staff turnover rates in public protection teams due to workload pressures and low staffing. She stated that this can lead to some cases lasting for months or years, resulting in major disruption to victims.
In the ‘New Met for London’ plan the Commissioner states that the Met will “strengthen local public protection teams, giving them more people, specialist training and better access to the Met’s proactive tools and tactics” [2].
The London Assembly Police and Crime Committee will meet tomorrow to discuss Baroness Casey’s findings related to the Met’s public protection teams and whether this has impacted victims coming forward.
The Committee will also ask the Met how it is supporting communities in London affected by the Israel-Gaza conflict.
The guests are:
- Louisa Rolfe OBE, Assistant Commissioner Frontline Policing, Metropolitan Police
- Sophie Linden, Deputy Mayor of Policing and Crime
- Claire Waxman, London Victims’ Commissioner
The meeting will take place on Wednesday 8 November 2023 from 10am, in the Chamber at City Hall, Kamal Chunchie Way, E16 1ZE.
Media and members of the public are invited to attend.
The meeting can also be viewed LIVE or later via webcast or YouTube.
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Notes to editors
- Baroness Casey of Blackstock DBE CB, An independent review into the standards of behaviour and internal culture of the Metropolitan Police Service
- Metropolitan Police Service, A New Met for London
- Read the agenda papers.
- Caroline Russell AM, Chair of the Police and Crime Committee, is available for interview.
- Find out more about the work of the Police and Crime Committee.
- As well as investigating issues that matter to Londoners, the London Assembly acts as a check and a balance on the Mayor.
For more information, please contact Emma Bowden in the Assembly Media Office on 07849 303897. For out of hours media enquiries please call 020 7983 4000 and ask for the Assembly duty press officer.